The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-03-16
Letter from Syracuse.
SYRACUSE. n. Y. March 9, 1887

SYRACUSE, \. -, March ., 1887.
Mr.. Editor Syracuse still lives and
grows, and while she may not have the
wonderful municipal growth of which we
occasionally read from the West, yet she is
keeping pace with her eastern neighbors
She tries to grow honestly, even if she has
to steal everything adjoining her. For in
stance, in the middle of February the mu-
nicipal land was extended, an imaginary
boundary was drawn, and her thrifty and en-
terprisng otfspring-the villages of Geddes
and Danforth-were taken unto herself and
became a part of her, and now we have
eleven wards and a population gradually
exceeding eighty thousand.
WE probably have our share of prom-
nent men. The United States circuit Judge
for New York, Vermont and Connecticut
William j. Wallace-resides here. Frank
Hiscock, so well known in congress, and
whom we believe after March ith will be
equally as well known as our United States
senator, also resides here. The New York
court of appeals, probably the ablest state
court in the Union. has two of its seven
judges residing here in adjoining residences.
But will not tire you with long list of
our distinguished men.
THE history of the growth of the town is
peculiarly interesting to SyTacusans. The
first white settlement was in 1885, among the
Indians on the shore of Onondaga Lake, by
Ephraim Webster, and Syracuse was known
ID. n
that sixty years ago was covered with salt
marshes stagnant pools, sluggish brooks,
many trees and Stumps and awful mud has
become so wonderfully changed as to leave
no idea ofits early condition.
IT seems strange to read of your having
so much snow over in Vermont. We had
toerably good sleghing during most of De-
cember and January, but to-day the streets
are bare, and it is warm, pleasant and
sprng-like. We have much more cloudy
weather here in the winter than there is in
Vermont, and while the thermometer does
not run near as low here as there, it is much
damper, and we probably feel the cold as
keeny.
OUR shipping facilities, by several rail-
roads and two canals, give every con-
venence to manufacturers and merchants.
Indeed our central position and our east
ness of access from all parts of the state has
at times made us so ambitious that we have
thought of stealing the capitol away from
Albany; and if that little hamlet" down
on Manhattan Island did not watch us so
closely we should probably try it,
For the last six weeks five of our princi-
pal churches have held union revival meet
ings every afternoon and evening except
Saturday. These meetings have been held
a week in each of the churches, and have
been lead by the evangelist, Rev. f. f. Da-
wilson of Massachusetts, assisted by the
have gone forward to accept Christ as their
Savior.
THE salt manufacture here, which was
one of the former booming elements of the
town and gave us the names of Salt
Point and Salt City" is nothing TO what
it used to be- Manufacturers claim that
there is no money in it now.
NINE miles from here is the Indian reser-
walton set apart by the state, where dwell
about four hundred of the "Onondagas,
the remnant of one of the once famous
six Nations"
AS an indication that we like to be heard
from, l will say that we have the reputa-
ton of sending out more commercial travel
ers than any other town of our size.
WHAT would probably surprise prohibition
Vermont would be to see several breweries
making lager beer, and a saloon on nearly
every corner selling it.
CHARLES b. GooDRICH.